I saw my local station FOXNY 5 that an airline security firm employed by UAL at ORD, BOS, JFK, EWR, and other major airport) called Argenbrite based in Chicago is not learning from the events of 9-11. They did raise the hourly pay from $6.50-$10.50. Many epople who we're hired after 9-11 did not have a background in security at all. when tests we're being filled out people where looking over their neighbors paper and instructors we're not saying anything. When the eye exam came around a woman who could only read the 1st line E she could not read the second line and yet she was hired! A man who was filing out a form that was also hired didn't know the diffrence between a misdameano and felony of a crime he comminted years ago.

There was a 2 day session all people we're hired had to attend. For six housr the new employees had to sit and watch videos and listen to people speak. Towards the end instructors passed around real weapons like knives, guns and inert grenades and telling them the meathods on how terrorists camoflauge/smuggle though security...And there was no background check done yet on any of the new employees!!! Beofore the sesion was over an insurance agent was selling employees liability insuarnce. Unfreakin believable!

The employees also get 40 hrs of on the job experince. The Flight attendants union and pilots union wanted it extended to 3 weeks training but neither the FAA or the airlines employing these joke security agencies have budged! The complaints of this firm has fallen on deaf ears. It looks to me that history is going to repeat itself yet again and yet again agencies like the FAA will do nothing while people are dying left and right!

Actually Argenbright used to be based in Atlanta. It was bought out by a British firm called Securicor at the end of last year.

I can't speak for Argenbright's US operations, but I was a senior manager for their European operation (then called ADI) in Europe between 1992 and 1994. Training in the UK was strictly regulated by the UK Department of Transport and took about two weeks. In Germany and Austria where we also had operations, training also took two weeks.

Unfortunately the FAA's risk assessment was that flights out of the US were not threatened. It was flights into the US that they were worried about. I could never figure that one out.

Also, the airlines are responsible to a great extent. We started off in Europe with great intentions and super quality, but the airlines were just not prepared to pay the price and instigated constant contract bidding which almost always went to the lowest bidder who said that they could comply with the guidelines (whether they could or not was a different matter). One noteable exception was British Airways: they always insisted on quality and training first.

I know what you mean, I doesn't seem like much has changed. At my local airport (YYC, or Calgary, Canada) it's still the same burger-flipping caliber security staff at the gates. They added a desk at entrance to the gate where they a have a geriatric commisioner sit and check ID. Wow, I'd sure feel safe with them at the helm.
No wonder some U.S. pilots are refusing people on planes, they know how lame security really can be.

I'd like to add that I've seen their staff at EWR and JFK. Their work makes me sick! Half the time the guys watching the screen aren't paying attention adn are socializing. When something suspicious pops up they either don't make a thourough check or don't check at all. I actually yelled at the one guy to pay attention to the screen. He looked at me dumbfounded.

I reported that team to Port Authority and they told me I'm not the first to complain. A lady came in 5 mintues ago and told them that the man operating the secuity wand was not pressing the button. The day before according to PA at EWR you actually had people walkng around the checkpoint due to the long line because the employees hand searching bags had difficult opening a pax bag that the zippers was sealed together with plastic ties. At the end they let him board a UAL flight without hand searching the bag! They are on the PA's crap list along with the US Custom's. Their families fly other airlines that uses better security firms. They avoid UA and AA due to their contract with Argenbright. UAL is really going to be with PA and EA if they are going to use this company along with AA. I will not risk my life and pay may hard earned $$$ to fly on a deathtrap waiting to be sprung.